Wheel



Aug.18, 192s.

. H. B. GILLETTE WHEEL Filed May 24,, 1924 wi l FE. r I): V

Patented Aug. I8, 1925.

HERBERT LB. GILLETTE, OF GRAND RABIDS, MICHIGAN.

WHEEL.

Apphcation filed. May 24, 1924.. Serial No. 715,575.

To alt whom it may concern:

Be 1t known that I, HERBERT B. GILLETTE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Grand Rapids, county of Kent, State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Wheels, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in wheels.

My invention relates more particularly to improvements in wheels adaptedfor use on trucks although desirable and capable of various other uses.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an improved wheel which is very strong and durable andat the same time substantially noiseless.

Second, to provide an improved wheel which may be effectively formed ofwaste cuttings of wood.

Third, to provide an improved wheel which may be rapidly andeconomically manufactured.

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details, willdefinitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and meansdescribed in the following specification. The invention is clearlydefined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearlyillustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of thisapplication, in which:

Fig. I is a side view illustrating one of the steps in the manufactureof my improved wheel.

Fig. II is a detail section on a line corresponding to line 2-2 of Fig.III, showing further structural details.

Fig. III is a detail section on a line corresponding to line 33 of Fig.I.

Fig. IV is a side elevation of a completed wheel.

Fig. V is a detail section on a line corresponding to line 55 of Fig.IV.

In the drawing similar reference characters refer to similar partsthroughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken lookingin the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Referring to the drawing, my improved wheel comprises an annular bodyportion formed of radially disposed blocks of wood,

' the embodiment illustrated consisting of the a ped bl k 1 d th nectangr blocks 2, there being a pair of wedge-shaped blocks between each pairof rectangular blocks.

' The blocks have registering bores or holes 3 therein which form acontinuous annular here, there being a hole l in one of the blockscommunicating with this annular bore so that molten metal, such asbabbitt or the like, may be poured through the hole and is cast ormolded into a'ring 5 thereby providing an internal metal ring bindingthe blocks together. Previous, however, to the casting of the ring 5,the blocks are clamped up by means of the clamping band 6 having ears 7at the ends thereof through which the clamping bolt 8 is disposed.

After the blocks are thus secured together, they are machined to providethe outwardly facing shoulders 9 on which the annular side plates orrings 10are secured by means of the rivets 11.

It will be observed that the ends of the blocks project beyond the outeredges of the clamping rings, the ends of the blocks constituting thetread of the wheel.

The hub 12 is secured in any suitable manner and as effective means arewell known in this art, such means are not illustrated.

My improved wheel is very strong and rigid and is capable of carryingheavy loads and withstanding severe racking strains. It is designed tobe used without a tire so that it is substantially noiseless whenemployed on cement floors or pavements.

The wheels are made of small pieces of wood which are ordinarilyregarded as waste in factories.

The blocks 1 and 2 may be rapidly formed by sawing or slicingoperations.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a wheel structure, the combination of a plurality of wedge-shapedblocks and a plurality of rectangular blocks disposed radially, therebeing a pair of the wedgeshaped blocks between each pair of rectangularblocks, said blocks having annular registering shoulders on their outersides and having registering holes therein providing a continuousannular bore, a ring of metal cast in said annular bore, and clampingrings upon the sides of the blocks in engagement with said shoulders.

In a wheel structure, the combination of a plurality of wedge-shapedblocks and i plurality of rectangular hl'ocks'dispose'tl radially, therebeing a pair of the wedgeshaped blocks between-reach pa-1r-.of;reotan--gular blocks, said blocks having registering holes therein providing acontinuous annular "4;; In a Wheel structure, fth'e combination ofaplurality of blocks disposed radially to provide an annular unit,.saidblocks having registering holes therein providing a conrtinuous annularbore, and a ring of metal cast in said annular bore.

'5. A .Wheel'unitieolnprising Wedge-shaped blocks of wood disposedradially and intermediate blooks of .wood withparallel sides disposedbetween :said Wedgesshap'ed blocks, saidalolocks' having registeringholes providing an annular 'ibore within the blocks, and -a metal ring'oast within said bore.

In Witness whereof l'ihave hereunto'set 80 my hand.

HERBERT B GHJLETTE. [in s3]

